[Birdtalk] UTAH COUNTY BIRDING - 1/3/09

[Jeff Bilsky]

Birded several locations in Utah County today. Highlights:

At Lincoln Point, I had about a dozen birds fly over right when I arrived. I
looked up at them through my binocs as they came at from over the frozen
lake to the East and headed Northwest over the hillside and out of sight -
towards the lake to the west. They were very pale white underneath and
didn't have the dark breastband or outertail feathers of horned larks and
really didn't seem to be horned lark - esque in their flight - seemed like
something I hadn't seen fly before. I listened for their flight call and
tried to put it into my memory - listened to Birdjam shortly after and got
what I think is a pretty good match for SNOW BUNTINGS. I believe this is
what I saw. I tried to relocate them but the bitter cold and hazardous roads
made my pursuit unsuccessful. I suggest if you head out there, you make sure
you have 4WD.

At the East Bay Ponds, there were a lot of ducks including what I observed
to be a female BLUE WINGED TEAL. The white eye arcs were very distinct as
was the white patch at the base of the bill.
I observed the bird for quite some time and believe this is the correct ID.
There were several GREEN WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, a couple PIE-BILLED
GREBES, a RING NECKED DUCK etc. A couple BALD EAGLES flew over as did a
beautiful, very pale PRAIRIE FALCON. The GREATER YELLOWLEGS flock continues
and has grown to 14 now.

Heading back to Salt Lake, I took a long detour out to Salt Air marina - not
sure why -  but I did pick up a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - smaller bill and broader
eye band and smaller overall size than Northern was observed.

Well those are my personal highlights for the day.

Good Birding.

-- 
Jeff Bilsky
Salt Lake City
jbilsky at gmail.com
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